ROWBOTHAM, Arthur Francis
| Service Number: | 2627 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 October 1916, Enlisted at Rockhampton, QLD |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Stockman |
| Died: | Illness - Bronchial Pneumonia, France, 23 November 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension Plot V, Row D, Grave 51 Headstone inscription reads:Blest be Thy memory and blest Thy bright example be R.I.P., Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Abbeville, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2627, 31st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Rockhampton, QLD | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2627, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2627, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 23 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 2627, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2627 awm_unit: 41st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-11-23 |
Mr Geoff Rowbotham
I wish I could include the poignant letter written by Arthur's mother which expresses the heart felt sorrow, anguish and DEEP grief of a mother on the receipt of items she suspected did not belong to her late son yet none of hisossessions were included in the parcel she received.
The correspondence she forwarded to the D of D on 18th Aug 1919 concludes with these words:-
"My God forgive those accountable for same now we are getting up in years, all our hopes are shattered , in as much that I punish myself looking forward to his return and saving all I could and so am coolly told I am not entitled to any pension, where had I mis spent and been of low character it would have been granted"
Over 100 years later this is so true.
AS A NATION we really have no sense of what has been given by so many of the Time. A Nation of 4,000,000 a quarter of which were male gave 500,000 to the First World War. A generation lost.
Submitted 6 May 2015 by Geoff Rowbotham
Mr Geoff Rowbotham
Arthur's mother's name was Catherine and he lived in Murray Street, Rockhampton, Queensland Australia. Arthur enlisted at the age of 21, with his mother's consent on 9th October 1916.
His regimental number is 2627, strangely my sister was born 26th June 1935 and I was born 27th June 1937. He enlisted as a reinforcement for the 41st Bn AIF and sailed from Brisbane on HMAT Kyarra 17th Nov 1916.
Admitted to 10th Aust Fd Amblance on 15th Nov 1918 suffering from influenza and tic to 3rd Aust Gen Hospital, Abbeville and died of pneumonia, 23 Nov 1918. Buried in Abbeville Communal Cemertery Extension. I believe he was later exhumed and buried in Picardy CWGC-Australian Section.
His mother received his effects from the field from AIF Kit Store, 110 Greyhound Road, Hammersmith, London W6 but were sent to the wrong address since Catherine,(now spelt with a 'K' rather then a 'C' ) but did NOT include the locket with a stand of her, which she had given to Arthur before he boarded the train in Rockhampton bound for France.
Arthur, took advantage of each leave and overstayed by a number of hours with the consequence of being reduced to the ranks and being returned to temporary rank within days. Eg. T/Cpl on leave, reduced to Pte on being AWL only to be promoted to T/Cpl within days. Many reasons could be given for this, least of which is Discipline had to be seen to be done irrespective of rank but acknowledging Arthur's experience and knowledge in the field, his rank was reinstated.
Submitted 6 May 2015 by Geoff Rowbotham
Mr Geoff Rowbotham
Arthur's mother's name was Catherine and he lived in Murray Street, Rockhampton, Queensland Australia. Arthur enlisted at the age of 21, with his mother's consent on 9th October 1916.
His regimental number is 2627, strangely my sister was born 26th June 1935 and I was born 27th June 1937. He enlisted as a reinforcement for the 41st Bn AIF and sailed from Brisbane on HMAT Kyarra 17th Nov 1916.
Admitted to 10th Aust Fd Amblance on 15th Nov 1918 suffering from influenza and tic to 3rd Aust Gen Hospital, Abbeville and died of pneumonia, 23 Nov 1918. Buried in Abbeville Communal Cemertery Extension. I believe he was later exhumed and buried in Picardy CWGC-Australian Section.
His mother received his effects from the field from AIF Kit Store, 110 Greyhound Road, Hammersmith, London W6 but were sent to the wrong address since Catherine,(now spelt with a 'K' rather then a 'C' ) but did NOT include the locket with a stand of her, which she had given to Arthur before he boarded the train in Rockhampton bound for France.
Arthur, took advantage of each leave and overstayed by a number of hours with the consequence of being reduced to the ranks and being returned to temporary rank within days. Eg. T/Cpl on leave, reduced to Pte on being AWL only to be promoted to T/Cpl within days. Many reasons could be given for this, least of which is Discipline had to be seen to be done irrespective of rank but acknowledging Arthur's experience and knowledge in the field, his rank was reinstated.
Submitted 6 May 2015 by Geoff Rowbotham
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Charles William and Catherine Rowbotham of Stanley Street, Railway Station, Rockhampton
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
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